Eph 2:1-3 (NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
· Before we were regenerated, what was our spiritual state?
o We were spiritually dead
o There are two types of death in scripture, spiritual death and physical death. Sometimes we confuse the two
o So, in answer to the question, when did you become a Christian, and the person answers, I was always a Christian or I was born a Christian, what is the problem?
· It is not true
· We are spiritually dead and separate from God
§ John 1:12-13 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
· Three ideas of moral pathology (Simpson, p46)
o Pelagianism asserts the convalescence of human nature. Man merely needs teaching
o Semi-pelagianism admits his ill-health, but affirms that the symptoms will yield to proper treatment, to a course of tonic drugs and a scrupulous regimen
o Biblical Christianity ... pronounces that mortification has set in and that nothing less than infusion of fresh lifeblood can work a cure. Nostrums (medicine of secret composition; questionable remedy) and palliatives (something that helps but cannot cure the disease) aggravate rather than allay the disease. Sin is an organic epidemical malady, a slow devitalizing poison issuing in moral necrosis (localized death of living tissue); not a stage of arrested or incomplete development, but a seedplot of impending ruin."
· Paul describes the environment in three ways
· The first is a lifestyle that follows the ways of this world. How would you describe this lifestyle?
o The phrase ‘olam hazeh (CJB) is used in the Complete Jewish Bible (reference to a Gentile demonic lifestyle)
o Not just opposed to the rules of God, but actually, seeks to eliminate God from every aspect of life. There is a worldview that is of this world and there is a biblical one. They are in opposition to each other
· Secondly, this lifestyle is dominated by the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" also called "the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"
o The ruler is Satan
o Satan has been cast out of heaven by Christ' ascension
o His rule is restricted to earth. This is also the region where demons dwell
o His power though extends into the hearts of unbelievers
· Not all unbelievers are demon-possessed
· Even in Jesus' time it was somewhat rare
· Today, there are 30-50 times as many people, so demon possession would be more rare
· So, the philosophy or lifestyle of the world influences people, Satan and his demonic forces influences people, and lastly, our flesh (human nature marred by sin) dominates us
o Our sinful nature is inherited from Adam and is corrupted
o We want to satisfy our lusts
o We desire to sin
o We want to be proud
o We want to do things to excess
o We are all narcissists to a degree (some more than others)
· Consequently, prior to coming to Christ, what is our state?
o We are objects of wrath
o Why?
· Because we opposed God (from three different ways). We accepted a philosophy that pushes or eliminates him. We followed the ruler of this world. We allowed our flesh to dictate our needs
Eph 2:4-5 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.
· So that we understand our state before coming to God, how would you describe it?
o Opposed, enemies, without any good (from God's perspective), and without ANY hope
o Who takes the first step?
· GOD
· This is an absolutely key thought. You did not seek God. God sought you. If you think you initiated the relationship, then you have completely missed the point
· 1 John 4:9-10 (NIV) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
· I love how the AMP and NLT translate the Greek
o Eph 2:4-5 (NLT) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, …
o Eph 2:4 (AMP) But God — so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
· Why all the discussion on our condition prior to the statement that it is grace that saved us?
o Paul wants us to truly understand:
· Our condition
· Our rebellion
· Our lack of saving our self
· God's amazing love
· Our need for heart felt repentance, thanks, and humility
· GRACE -- God's riches at Christ' Expense. Undeserved merit
Eph 2:6-10 (NIV) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
· We have been transformed from objects of wrath to what kind of object now?
o Objects of his grace. Objects of his kindness. Objects of his incomparable riches
· What are the ages to come?
o Millennial age, and the age that follows, and whatever other ages God plans
· Obviously, the "seated" is not literal but has to be taken metaphorically.
o Seated refers to our new home, our new citizenship
o Jesus has literally done, what we will do in the future
· Verse 8 and 9 are the summary verses of this whole section. Put it in your own words
o You cannot save yourself
o God saved us. It had nothing to do with us
o In heaven, there will be no more boasting. (it would be nice to see that today)
· So salvation is not something we have produced. It is not a masterpiece that we can show off. But we are a masterpiece that God shows off. The JB translates workmanship, a work of art. The Greek word is poime, which is where we get the word poem
o But here is the part where we have a role
o God's created the poem. He has even prepared the good works for us to do. So what are we doing to write it?
· You are writing a gospel each day, by the things that you do, and the words that you say. Men read what you write, distorted or true. What is the gospel according to you? (Author unknown)
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